Volleyball postseason honors

The third-ranked Texas volleyball team earned six Big 12 postseason awards, including freshman of the year.

Ashley Engle, Juliann Faucette, Destinee Hooker and Lauren Paolini were named to the All-Big 12 first team. Freshman setter Michelle Kocher was honored as the league’s freshman of the year. This marks the third-straight season the Longhorns have had the freshman of the year. Engle won in 2006, and Faucette took the honor last season.

Kocher was also named to the Big 12 all-freshman team, after leading the Longhorns to the nation’s second-best team hitting percentage (.340).

UT’s four first-team selections tied Nebraska for the most in the conference.

The Longhorns earned the overall No. 3 seed in the NCAA volleyball tournament, which begins this week. UT is the No. 1 seed in the Austin Regional, and will also host the first- and second-rounds beginning on Friday at Gregory Gym.

Wichita State and Rice will play Friday at 4:30 in the opening first-round match, and UT will play Lamar at 6:30, or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first match.

The Longhorns have won 13 of 14 matches at home this season, and have won 28 of their last 29 matches at Gregory Gym.